The Anglo-American / Transatlantic Trophy Match Races (merged)

One of the more exciting reads of my youth was the coverage of the Anglo-American Match Races, later called the Trans-Atlantic Match Races. I remember pouring over the magazines of that time, and wish I had been smart enough to save all of them. I remember one photo of Jody Nicholas on the Suzuki water buffalo, back end hung out almost dirt track style, coming off of a hairpin. I also remember reading with such excitment about Rayborn's success, as having met the year before, him he was one of my heros.

Googling along, I ran across this site which has some great old photos from that time, including a great shot of Rayborn on the "more images" page.

My question is, I've not been able to locate the results from these races. Do they exist anywhere online or in anyone's personal collection? Also, were any of you guys there, and might you have any photos of your own?

Back in the day I used to like Peter Williams on the John Player Norton, as well as Sheene, Baker, Grant, Rocket Ron - I could go on! Ok, I will. Virginio Ferrari, Wil Hartog, Marco Luchinelli and that Dutch rider who rode for Kawasaki...

Ron Grant? The same kind of tall lanky guy who ended up riding for Suzuki in the US? If it's the same one, there's a funny story I remember about how on the way over for the first match races, he told all of the US riders about how Brands Hatch was the "smoothest race track" he'd ever ridden on. They didn't end up seeing it quite that way.

Gary Nixon... I met him around 1970 or so at an indoor race in Columbia, South Carolina. I remember that he chain smoked, and seemed a bit nervous, but was quite cordial. I always enjoyed watching him at Road Atlanta on the Kawasakis. He seemed so tidy, neat, and careful, but managed to be really fast in the process. Yvon DuHamel, on the other hand, always looked like he was on the ragged edge...

I used to go to the Transatlantics in the '80s - great days. A few more names of riders I admired - Randy Mamola, Richard Schlacter and Mike Baldwin for the US, John 'Noddy' Newbold, Tom Herron, Steve Manship, Steve Parrish (good commentator too!), and Graeme Crosby (from NZ but an honarary Brit 'cos he was good and rode for Suzuki GB).

But I don't remember a Dutch Kawasaki rider - Mick Grant won the Dutch 250cc GP in 1977, and there was the South African, Kork Ballington, and the German, Toni Mang.

There were three top Dutchmen in 500 GPs, Jack Middleburg, Boet van Dulman and Wil Hartog, but they rode Suzukis and Yamahas......

Originally posted by Macca But I don't remember a Dutch Kawasaki rider - Mick Grant won the Dutch 250cc GP in 1977, and there was the South African, Kork Ballington, and the German, Toni Mang.

There were three top Dutchmen in 500 GPs, Jack Middleburg, Boet van Dulman and Wil Hartog, but they rode Suzukis and Yamahas......

Well, I suppose I must be thinking of Middleburg... In the early '80s I organised three series of 'mini-posters' with Valvoline which were inserted free in Autosport. As well as ensuring that as many of my mates featured on these posters as was possible ;) , I was also rather chuffed to get a 500 GP bike there in the mixer. I really thought it was a Kwaka, and the rider Dutch. Hey-ho, the mists of time and all that!

Originally posted by smithy Is the DuHamel listed here related to the DuHamel doing the rounds in the current AMA SBK series?

I've wondered that too, but aren't they from different continents? I suppose that doesn't actually preclude the possibility though...

Originally posted by Macca I would think that's Miguel, Yvon's son, who used to be in 500cc GPs. OTTOMH I think there's another son also, though, so it could be him.

Paul M

That's right, he's Yvon's son. Yvon can often be seen somewhere in the pits during his son's races, and he still shows up occasionally at vintage bike races. If I'm not mistaken, Yvon began his career racing snowmobiles. Snowmobiles to racecars... there's a new topic!

That's right, he's Yvon's son. Yvon can often be seen somewhere in the pits during his son's races, and he still shows up occasionally at vintage bike races. If I'm not mistaken, Yvon began his career racing snowmobiles. Snowmobiles to racecars... there's a new topic!

Back from a few days away from the keyboard, nice to see a bit of bike talk on TNF...

Miguel Duhamel is indeed Yvon's son , he did race in GP500 for the french Sonauto team in the early 90's ( ? ) , he has an older brother named Mario who also was a good rider.

The Duhamel's did on two wheels what the Andretti's and Bell's did on four at Le Mans , they entered the Bol d' Or ( the biggest 24 hours endurance race ) one - or maybe two - years in the 90's , old daddy Yvon and his sons Mario and Miguel , on a semi-works Honda , and were in the leading bunch....I think they even came close to winning that year the race was interrupted many times by pouring rain ( at Paul Ricard , of all places....)

Originally posted by Macca I would think that's Miguel, Yvon's son, who used to be in 500cc GPs. OTTOMH I think there's another son also, though, so it could be him.

Paul M

Yvon still rides... I think he had an accident last year at Mosport at a motorcycle track days. He got into an accident with a young rider. I think he was still racing ocassionally into his 50s.

Yvon has two sons in racing. Mario and Miguel Duhamel.

Mario was a Canadian 600cc & 750cc champion in 86 & 87 and did some privateer rides in AMA I think.

Miguel has Superbike, Supersport, and this year a Formula Extreme championship to his name. He also has the all time number of wins in all series. His listed age depends on where you look. I think he is hiding what his true age is because he is still having too much fun with what he is doing. I think he is 38 years old. Miguel also did 500s for a year.

Does he ever.....this is a picture of him taken at the 2002 Coupes Moto Légende at Montlhéry, aboard a borrowed genuine 750 H2r .....Yvon had a brand new set of period leathers remade for the occasion ( to accomodate a few extra pounds ) and did turn som pretty quick laps....

Been itching to start this, in my opinion some of the best races ever seen in the UK & the chance for many of us to see for the first time the best from across the water ( Roberts, Rayborn, Mann, Russell, Spencer etc)I have lots of memories from the races I saw, but this one of Phil Read on a Kawasaki 750 from the 1977 series stands out, he dragged this exhaust pipe round for a number of laps, till it detached itself just where I got this shot,( Clearways) only for it to go under his rear wheel & have him off.Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

Been itching to start this, in my opinion some of the best races ever seen in the UK & the chance for many of us to see for the first time the best from across the water ( Roberts, Rayborn, Mann, Russell, Spencer etc)I have lots of memories from the races I saw, but this one of Phil Read on a Kawasaki 750 from the 1977 series stands out, he dragged this exhaust pipe round for a number of laps, till it detached itself just where I got this shot,( Clearways) only for it to go under his rear wheel & have him off.Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

Anyone else got any memories & or pics to add?

Fu,my best ever memory of the Trans was Cal Rayborn.Only saw him at Mallory on the HD,but my god what a talent.He made our boys look a bit shoddy(with the exception of Ray Pickrell)Both sadly no longer with us.Any photies of CR?HW

Fu,my best ever memory of the Trans was Cal Rayborn.Only saw him at Mallory on the HD,but my god what a talent.He made our boys look a bit shoddy(with the exception of Ray Pickrell)Both sadly no longer with us.Any photies of CR?HW

He is my other greatest memory, saw him on his first visit to UK at Brands in 1972, can still see and hear him now, orange tinted visor, jet helmet, absolutely brilliant, as you say only Ray could match him in those races, they shared three wins each I recall?Sadly no pics that day

I only ever witnessed one of them, the first in '71. On the Wednesday before the meeting, both teams were at the usual Brands practice day. I can remember the huge BSA/Triumph transporter disgorging what seemed to be an endless supply of tripples. I also recall some of the Yanks watching from the little stand that used to be at the top of paddock bend, close by the paddock, and hearing them discussing Pickrell's line through there; I'm reasonably sure one of them was Jim Rice. I've ealier recounted my little tale about Nixon steping off at Clearways during the open session and nearly being collected by yours truly and several others. I remember the weather at the following weekend was perishing cold for spectating. I also felt that us Brits should have hammered them more convincingly. Unfortunately, the great Alan Barnett chucked the Aermacchi away at Clearways in one of the 'supporting' races.

I was also there at that 1977 Brands meeting, probably standing only a few yards away from Mr Fu since I also witnessed Phil Read tripping over his loose exhaust pipe and falling off right in front of me.....

A few pages from the programme, with a rather sad note though since two of the riders listed in the American team sadly did not make it to that Easter meeting, having lost theit lives at Imola the week-end before

I was also there at that 1977 Brands meeting, probably standing only a few yards away from Mr Fu since I also witnessed Phil Read tripping over his loose exhaust pipe and falling off right in front of me.....

A few pages from the programme, with a rather sad note though since two of the riders listed in the American team sadly did not make it to that Easter meeting, having lost theit lives at Imola the week-end before

David Emde has gone now too, killed on a road bike a couple of years a go.

I got Scott Russell's autograph while working the fuel pumps in the paddock at Mallory during the 1991 Match Races, he came over with a jerry can and got the fuel himself, just like Mr Stoner does these days, no doubt.........

I got Scott Russell's autograph while working the fuel pumps in the paddock at Mallory during the 1991 Match Races, he came over with a jerry can and got the fuel himself, just like Mr Stoner does these days, no doubt.........

Scott was the only rider from USA that year that put up any kind of fight IMO.Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

I got Scott Russell's autograph while working the fuel pumps in the paddock at Mallory during the 1991 Match Races, he came over with a jerry can and got the fuel himself, just like Mr Stoner does these days, no doubt.........

One of my favourite pics, James Whitham, & according to the man himself, on his all time favourite bike that he rode, @ Brands Hatch Trans Trophy 1991.Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

A couple more from those great Trans Trophy days.Kenny Roberts 1976 @ Brands Hatch on the OW29/30? 750 Yamaha.Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.Pat Hennen on the same day 1976, he signed for Suzuki GB for 1977.Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

Pat was very much a privateer on his own in 1976, just like our friend Stu Avant..... He ran his season with his brother Chip and a dutch fan recruited as "mechanic".... read the (touching) story there...http://www.motorcycl...OFinduction.aspFor 1977 Pat was recruited by the Suzuki GB ( aka Heron ) team , apparently much to the displeasure of Barry Sheene, who manoeuvered to have his good friend Steve Parrish also drafted in the team, so as to have at least one team-mate "on his side" ....

The TR750 was owned by Colemans, the New Zealand Suzuki distributors, who identified and supported Pat's talent from day one when he appeared for NZ's Marlboro Series in 1973, turning out as a protege of Ron Grant on the Jon Allnatt-fettled Sayonara Suzuki 500 twin.

And was the Suzuki GB team he signed to ride for in '77 the Heron team, alongside Sheene?

Cant really add anymore to what Philippe & Glenn have said, other than if you ask most people which American was the first to win a 500cc/MotoGP (hate that title!) race, sadly Pat would not be the first person on people's lips, it took 3 goes for his younger brother David to get him inducted into the AMA hall of fame!1977Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics1978 a couple of weeks before the TT Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.